Chamaerops humilis var. argentea

I have read here and there that the Moroccan variety of Chamaerops humilis, named var. argentea (formerly known as var. cerifera) is more hardy than the normal Chamaerops humilis. I had to try them, and I bought a sample of seeds late 2009. My first experience is rather mixed. I planted out two small seedlings in June 2010, a few days later one was eaten! Maybe the taste wasn't too good, the other seedling remained, but alas - only for two weeks. Whoever ate them, left a tiny little bit of each leaf, so the palms may survive in the long run.

Experiences with potted specimen are quite good. They seem relatively fast growing, and I think this argentea variety is very promising.

This photo one week after the first "dinner" shows - if you look carefully - that there is a little something left above the remaining seedling.

Same two palms a month later.

For the coming winter I try a new kind of cover: An Ikea platic box with a few holes for ventilation.

Spring 2011: The Ikea box seems to have done the trick - keeping my argentea seedlings through the winter and at the same time keeping animals away.

This other little seedling covered with leaves and spruce seems less likely to have survived.

June 2011: I think that both seedlings will recover, and I consider speeding the process up a little by covering them with the Ikea plastic box. Perhaps my wife will have a say...

Autumn 2011: Only one seedling did recover in the end, and it looks healthy. Later I added winter protection: spruce at the bottom, grass and leaves at the top. The plastic box has been moved to the "real" Chamaerops humilis.